EP this week: EU-Turkey deal, terrorism, EU budget

EU-Turkey relations top the Parliament’s agenda this week as the civil liberties committee is set to debate the deal on migration and refugees. It also looks at measures to combat terrorism following the attacks in Brussels on 22 March and the extraordinary summit held by the EU’s justice ministers on 24 March. In addition committees also discuss how EU institutions spent the 2014 budget and funding for more staff at Europol’s counter-terrorism centre.

The civil liberties committee discusses on Thursday the EU’s cooperation with Turkey on refugees and the relocation of migrants. MEPs also evaluate if Turkey has made sufficient progress in order for its citizens to be granted visa-free access to the EU by this summer.

Also on Thursday the civil liberties committee discusses how to respond to the terrorist attacks in Brussels on 22 March. The discussion in the committee follows the extraordinary summit held by the EU member states’ justice and home affairs ministers two days after the attacks.

In addition the committee looks at allegations of citizenship being sold in some EU countries and corruption when it comes to issuing residence permits and visas when it meets on Thursday.

On Monday the budgets committee is to fast-track extra funding for humanitarian aid for refugees in the EU as well as for additional staff at Europol’s counter-terrorism centre.

One of Parliament’s tasks is to evaluate how EU institutions have spent their budget. On Monday and Thursday the budgetary controls committee discusses how the EU budget for 2014 was spent by different institutions and votes on whether to give its approval.

Following its constituent meeting, the inquiry committee investigating alleged emissions testing fraud in the car industry is to hold its first meeting on Thursday.

Representatives from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Deutsche Bank appear before the tax rulings committeeon Monday along with Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.